I must admit there’s a big difference between talking about boxing and reporting on boxing. I picked up my novice credentials and off I went to the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo Texas for a night of boxing featuring Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. In the days prior to this event local boxing hero and co-main eventer Roberto “Amenaza” Garcia had to pull out of his scheduled bout due to injuries suffered during training camp, more on this later. Arriving at the arena the 2nd bout of the evening was already underway and into the late rounds of the matchup, Fernando Beltran from Culiacan Mexico now 29-2-1 pounded out a unanimous decision over Los Mochis Mexico native Baudel Cardenas, the fans didn’t seem to like the decision and voiced their dislike with a chorus of boos after the decision was read. Judges scored the Cardenas/Beltran bout 96-94, 99-91 and 97-93 all in favor of Fernando Beltran. The 3rd match of the evening was the main event and after the ring festivities to announce the combatants, the fight was on. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr weighing 151 ¼ lbs and standing 6’0 tall went to work with his jab to the head and body of his 5’8 opponent Raul Munoz from Topeka Kansas also weighing 151 ¼ lbs, but Munoz was a game and counterpunched well in an early give and take battle. In that 1st round Chavez Jr landed several jabs, went to the body well with hooks, placed a well timed right hand to Munoz head and kept Munoz against the ropes for the most part with pressure boxing, for his part Munoz attempted to counter Chavez and was able to land some short but ineffective uppercuts on Chavez! Round 2 followed the same script as the 1st scene with Chavez jabbing to the body and head following this work with a strong right to Munoz head, Munoz makes it a fight and counters effectively, but not so effective to keep Chavez off of him, Chavez pressures Munoz to the ropes and lands hard rights and lefts to Munoz body, but Munoz is comfortable with his back against the ropes and fights there attempting to counter Chavez shots, Chavez lands a hard left uppercut to Munoz chin and he’s down losing his mouthpiece in the process, Munoz beats the count, round 2 ends! Round 3 begins as round 2 ended with Chavez upping the ante and forcing the fight on Munoz, Munoz is still alive and trying to work from the ropes where he finds himself due to Chavez’ pressure, Chavez lands a short left uppercut on the jaw that stuns Munoz, Munoz recovers and continues, back against the ropes trying to counter, Chavez lands a half hook half uppercut on Munoz jaw, Munoz knees wobble, Chavez lands a left hook on Munoz jaw, Munoz stumbles to his right off of the ropes, Chavez lands a straight right hand to Munoz’ think box and the Topeka native almost collapses, Chavez moves in for the kill and lands several unanswered blows the referee quickly moves in to stop the action, the winner at 1:29 of the 3rd round by TKO and still undefeated from Culiacan Mexico, Julio Cesar Chavez. Roberto Garcia 22-2, whose co-main event match was cancelled due to injury was supposed to have signed a promotional contract with Top Rank and become the next opponent for the undefeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr who is now campaigning at full welterweight. We’ll have to wait and see whether the Weslaco Texas native Garcia signs with Top Rank.